The defending champion Okanagan Rockets open the B.C. Major Midget League playoffs this weekend at home to the Greater Vancouver Canadians.
The best-of-three quarterfinal series starts Friday at 8:15 p.m. at CNC. Game 2 goes Saturday at 5:15 p.m., with a third, if necessary, set for Sunday at 10:15 a.m.
The Rockets (23-12-5) finished fourth in the BCMML, while the Canadians (21-16-3) were fifth, six points back of the Rockets.
“GVC is a solid hockey club, and will be a great challenge right out of the gate for our club” said Rocket general manager David Michaud. “They have elite scoring up front and are a well prepared team, I’m sure it will be an intense fun weekend.”
The last time the teams met in the playoffs was in 2012, with the Canadians winning in a two-game sweep.
Meanwhile, the Rockets closed out the regular season in strong fashion on the weekend at CNC, earning three of a possible four points against the first-place Cariboo Cougars.
The Rockets were 4-2 winners on Saturday, then settled for a 4-4 tie on Sunday morning.
Marcus Mitchell, a Kelowna Rockets listed player, led the major midgets in goals this season with 22, while Brandon Whistle, the younger brother of Kelowna Rockets starting goaltender Jackson Whistle, edged out Mitchell for the club’s scoring lead with 47 points in 40 games played.
